Clark, Texas, Liberty County ghost town. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

The land that became Clark was once (1849s) a part of Sam Houston's plantation. The Grand Cane plantation had river access on the Trinity and it was here in 1846 that the Grand Cane post office opened in 1846. In 1869 the post office remained, but was renamed Ironwood (a popular name for Bois d'Arc trees). The post office served the mailing needs of 76 families in 1870. The "town" was renamed Clark in 1900 by the postmaster named Fields, and history seems to have forgotten the reason for the renaming.

Being East Texas, the region was dense with pristine forests, but as the lumber companies approached the town, roads were cut and a logging camp established. In the 1920s, Clark became a voting precinct. Clark doesn't seem to have ever formed a distinct commercial center. In 1990 it remained on maps. Tangible proof of the town under its various names are presented here in the form of postmarks from the

John Germann Collection and maps from the Texas General Land Office.

Liberty County 1882 map showing Ironwood
From Texas state map #2134
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Liberty County 1907 postal map showing Clark
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Liberty County 1920s map showing Clark
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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